Karoo garden bird ringing, Vanrhynsdorp, January 2020

Not many gardens boast Karoo specials like European Bee-eater, Namaqua Warbler, and Lark-like Bunting. All these were ringed in a long weekend, as well as many other special species, by Dieter, Salome, Les, Karis and Itxaso.

Top numbers ringed by species were Cape Weaver, Cape Sparrow and Southern Masked-Weaver, birds that breed in the garden. A Namaqua Warbler pair also breed in the garden, and daily they were heard calling their pleasant and unique call.

European Bee-eaters perched on the telephone wires, and a fine net was put high – this net failed to catch any, but it did catch a Rock Martin and other birds. Unexpectedly, another net caught 10 European Bee-eaters – 3 adults and 7 juveniles. Karoo Scrub-Robins were only caught in spring-traps.

The total birds caught was 229 birds (215 ringed) of 26 species. Recaptures were relatively low at 14, indicating a high number of birds present overall. As to be expected at this time of year, many birds were moulting.

Portfolio – African Hoopoe, Lark-like Bunting, Fairy Flycatcher, Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Table. Birds ringed and recaptured in Vanrhynsdorp garden, January 2020

Species number	Species	Scientific name	n
317	Laughing Dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	11
318	Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	3
391	White-backed Mousebird	Colius colius	1
392	Red-faced Mousebird	Urocolius indicus	3
404	European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	10
418	African Hoopoe	Upupa africana	1
506	Rock Martin	Hirundo fuligula	1
544	African Red-eyed Bulbul	Pycnonotus nigricans	3
570	Familiar Chat	Cercomela familiaris	2
581	Cape Robin-Chat	Cossypha caffra	2
583	Karoo Scrub-Robin	Cercotrichas coryphoeus	7
606	African Reed-Warbler	Acrocephalus baeticatus	3
653	Namaqua Warbler	Phragmacia substriata	2
665	Fiscal Flycatcher	Sigelus silens	4
678	Fairy Flycatcher	Stenostira scita	1
686	Cape Wagtail	Motacilla capensis	2
760	Southern Double-collared Sunbird	Cinnyris chalybeus	7
784	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	2
786	Cape Sparrow	Passer melanurus	48
799	Cape Weaver	Ploceus capensis	54
803	Southern Masked-Weaver	Ploceus velatus	24
808	Southern Red Bishop	Euplectes orix	12
865	White-throated Canary	Crithagra albogularis	4
867	Streaky-headed Seedeater	Crithagra gularis	1
871	Lark-like Bunting	Emberiza impetuani	6
1172	Cape White-eye	Zosterops virens	15
	TOTAL		229

Thanks to Salome for hosting us!

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